New Beer Weekend #123

One of my favorites, though the last time I saw that at a store near me, it was already 6 months past it's best by date. I drank my weight of this in cask when I was working in the UK though

 

I don't believe I ever had a bad pint of London Pride once I discovered it over in England ( at least 3 years ). There was a great pub about 7 miles from house that had Fullers & Thai Food. I would have to really sweet talk the Mrs. some times to drive. If not; I would get a vented growler to go...

 

Anchor Our Special Ale 2022, 7.2% ABV; 4.42 overall

Pours an effervescent copper/ruddy hazel with one finger of tan head. Nice head retention & lacing

S; Sassafras, ginger, & plenty of general German Gingerbread once warm

T: Follows the nose plus German gingerbread ( a big plus with me ), a touch of juniper & pine up front. Pine, juniper & Leiber kuchen dominate as the beer warms through, a touch of peppery rye as well, a little bit of Sassafras tea as well. Finishes a little dry with plenty of medicinal & gingerbread notes

MF: Medium body, modest carbonation, great balance, pretty warming

This so hit in my wheelhouse for what I am looking for in this beer; go big or go home I say!

 

It was @champ103 's post earlier today that prompted me to grab a single of this today; now your post has me even more glad that I grabbed one. Something tells me I may be going back for a full six pack. I was gonna wait till next weekend to open it and review but I'm tempted to do so a little earlier now. You guys are not making it any easier on me...

 

A very nice offering from these folks. Cheers!

Castle Danger Solstice Saison 5.2% ABV
3.78/5 rDev -1.3%
look: 3.5 | smell: 3 | taste: 4.25 | feel: 4 | overall: 3.75
12oz can canned 11/03/22 into a 12oz tulip glass.
L: Pours pale grey w a pink & fleshy hue w a thin, smooth white head, good retention to edge foam, lively even carbo, light skeletal lacing.
S: Funky dry green apple, lightly spicy & peppery, grassy, earthy cardamom, pear, melon rind.
T: Fruity, fairly tart, pear, citrus zest, yeast, crackery bread, mulberry, white grape, resinous cardamom, melon rind, well balanced and not overly dynamic, has a faint brine.
F: Lightly brisk, zesty and drying med-light bodied feel. Punchy w an effervescent center and a fast, dry, lightly parching finish.
O: Organic aroma, great taste, lovely feel. A bit like a fruity dry party punch. Refreshing and very good in its style.

 

That beer has underwhelmed me some years, always worth at least a single though

 

I haven’t bought in years either but two great reviews from NBW, I had to!

 

I had some numbers sideways a mere 4.42 overall

 

Deck the Hills

5.6% English style holiday ale by Jackie O's

From a 12 ounce can, the body pours a dark brown. Small initial head with thereafter only a slight ring at the very edges. No lacing during the tasting.

Nose is sweet malt like a brown ale. Taste is malty, light caramel sweetness, floral notes and a hint of bitterness.

Carbonation is light. Mouth feel is OK.

A tasty holiday ale, but for my liking it could use a little more heft in ABV and body. Nonetheless a good holiday ale.

 

Had this earlier a good beer. Boozy but it balanced out as you got half way through it.

 

I'm sure Fuller's has more than one pub that does Thai food, but I always loved Churchill Arms because of that. That was in London, I only spent a short amount of time there (before eventually making my way up to work in Aberdeen for a while), but when i was in London, Churchill was were I was at

 

Can't remember the name of the pub, but was fairly close to Bicester, Oxon. I believe they had hundreds of tied houses & were growing when I left England in 93.

 

Goose Island Bourbon County Brand 30th Anniversary Reserve Stout, 14.4% ABV. Pours black with a one-finger light-brown head that left no lacing. Nose is light bourbon and chocolate. Taste follows, plus caramel/toffee, some sweetness, some bitterness, and bourbon burn. Excellent smooth mouthfeel, overall world-class. BTW - the gold label, the barreling tag, and the box really add to the flavor.

4.65/5 rDev +2.2%
look: 4.5 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.75 | feel: 4.5 | overall: 4.75

Barreling of this batch;

• 36% Booker's
• 33% Knob Creek
• 17% Basil Hayden
• 14% Baker's

Glad I bought three, may buy more. Equally as good as coffee. I need to get my hands on a Barleywine next, may have an opportunity soon.

 

Greetings all from the great northwest where we are awaiting the 7:30 PST kick-off of the Apple Cup. Go Cougs!

Today we have Mond Haze IPA from Firestone.
https://www.beeradvocate.com/beer/profile/2210/374705/

Kind of a pineapple flavor to this one.

Until next time

Go Cougs!

 

From a ninja box courtesy of @jonphisher by way of NBS BIF #16.

Tonewood Focal Point - Czech Pilsner - 3.8% abv - canned Sept 2022

Pours a foggy light golden, soapy head, some lingering spotty lacing. Smells as expected - spicy floral hops and a bit of bready malt. Flavor is dialed in - peppery herbal hops, bit of lemony citrus, slightly grassy, and just enough maltiness to stand up to the bitter finish. Medium carb, and a tiny bit heavier body that I was expecting. Finish is clean and crisp.

I'm a bit spoiled in the Czech pilsner department since I can get Moonlight Reality Czeck down at the grocery store whenever I want it, but this Tonewood beer is a great representation of the style. Slightly more bitter and heavier in body than Reality Czeck, but I'm a fan of bitterness so don't mind that at all. Overall, a great lager from Jersey. Thanks, Jon!

 

From my sender in NBS BIF#16, @superspak .

Fonta Flora Carolina Gold - "lagered saison brewed with heritage rice" - 5.2% abv - can dated 05/25/2021

Pours a hazy pale golden, quickly disappearing minimal white head, no lacing. Aromas of spices, lemony citrus. Flavor is herbal tea, orange, lemon, cloves, pepper, sweet malt. High carb, medium body, lingering sweetness, soft with only a hint of bitterness.

This would have made an interesting mystery beer. The flavor has some unexpected notes that I can't quite describe. Body is a bit heavier and sweeter than expected, although I suppose I've never had a rice lager brewed with saison yeast before, so I don't really have a point of comparison. Definitely a new one for me! Thanks, Ian!

 

Glad you enjoyed it, cheers Christine…I think that’s the last batch till next year unfortunately They do a good job rotating their lagers and other traditional beers in a very seasonally appropriate way.

 

Turducken Triple Ipa by Trillium




4.51/5 rDev +3.9%
look: 4.25 | smell: 4.5 | taste: 4.5 | feel: 4.75 | overall: 4.5


Canned 11.14, opened 11.26, well named for Thanksgiving

Brewers Notes: Pouring a dense, deep pale yellow with remarkable haze, Turducken's appearance is reminiscent of our hoppiest Double and Triple IPAs. Like its namesake delicacy, the aroma is layered, offering notes of blended citrus zest, punchy white grape juice, pineapple, and a gentle piney bitterness. Full-bodied, mouthcoating, and deftly balanced, Turducken is an indulgent Triple IPA and the perfect complement to your celebratory spread.

poured into a Spiegelau ipa glass , thick hazy orange juice with no pulp , creamy off white one finger foam cap , settles to a thick layer, spotty lacings

Aroma is tropical fruits, orange citrus , pineapple

Taste is juicy orange juice, pineapple, whisper of pine on the finish

Smooth juicy mouthfeel, the 10% abv is very well hidden, quick hops kiss on the finish

Great beer , recommended